If you live in a home that was built before 1990, there’s a high likelihood that there’s asbestos somewhere in the building materials of the home. Asbestos is a group of mineral fibers that naturally occur in rock. For a long time, it was used to create building materials, though dangers were realized as early as the 1930s and shortly before. Today, you won’t find it in building materials for the most part, but there is still a risk of exposure in some situations. When should you worry?
Remodeling an Older Home
If your home was built before 1990, and you’re ready to tackle a remodel, chances are you’re going to run into asbestos. It was previously used on hot water pipes, heating ducts, ceiling materials, cement, water boilers, floors, paint and many other materials. If you’re tearing down a wall, you should worry. If you’re ripping up a floor to install something new, you should worry. If you’re redoing the ductwork in your home, you should worry.
One of the nice things about the world today is there are contractors who specialize in safe asbestos removal. Even if you plan to tackle the remodel on your own, you will need to have an asbestos removal specialist handle at least that part of the project. This ensures you and your family stay safe and that anyone working on the project isn’t put into harm’s way.
Living in an Older Home
If you have no plans to remodel your older home, but just plan to live in it, you typically don’t need to worry about asbestos exposure. Asbestos is only released into the air when it is disturbed, so you can see how it would become a problem when you remodel. If you’re going to keep your home as it is, it won’t be released into the air. If it’s contained in your attic, your paint isn’t chipping, and your home is in good condition overall, it’s possible you won’t have to worry about a thing.
If you do have some spots where paint is chipping, that’s when you should worry. If your dog scratches a certain spot on the floor, it could be sending asbestos into the air. If the paint in your bathroom is peeling because of the condensation, it could also be sending asbestos into the air. In cases such as these, you’d want to have an asbestos removal contractor assess the situation.
Contacting a Professional
You should never handle asbestos removal on your own because it causes such dangerous health problems such as lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. If you suspect a problem with asbestos and you’re about to embark on a remodel, contact an asbestos removal contractor such as Nielsen Environmental to take care of it for you.
